The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-29
REACHING INTO ALABAMA
SAvANNAHS NEW SHORT LINE TO
MONTGOMERY.

The Alabama Midland to Connect
With the Savannah, Florida and
Western at nbridge-Advantage
of the Connection to Savannah-New
Fields of Trade 70 be Developed.
Mr.. R. A. Lytle, of Bainbridge, is in the
city on bis way North in the interests Of the
Alabama Midland railroad About a
month ago Mr. Lytle was here with Col. J.
D. Harrell, of cambridge, and Mr. Godfiy
Peterson, of Montgomery, Ala, and spent
several days talking up the road and show
ing what it would be as a connection Of
Savannah's.
The road, as first surveyed, was
from Montgomery to Chattahoochee.
cambridge saw that the line is bound to
draw large and valuable trade and some
of her citizens proposed that the road be ex-
tended through Early and Decatur counties
TO cambridge. Enough money was guaran-
teed along the original route, from Mont
gomery to Chattahoochee, TO warrant out
side capitalists in taking hold of the enter
prise.
TO START FROM BAINBRIDGE.
When it was proposed that the line
be diverted from Chattahoochee and from
bObLcil, 10 tTOfCO0 on the
river and thence to Bainbridge il was
agreed that if cambridge would sub
scr1bed Sc, 900 the route would be changed
The first canvass of cambridge obtained
subscriptions for 1900, and it was decided
that Savannah be asked to help out the two
southwestern counties Those interested in
the movement had reason to believe that
they would get assistance from Savannah
as she will be greatly benefited by the new
road, should it connect with the Savannah,
Florida and Western at Bainbridge
Several thousand dollars in subscriptions
were obtained here and the business men
took hold of the matter, recognizing at once
the Importance of a connection at Bainbridge
with road developing as fine a section of
country as that through which it will run
READY TO BEGIN WORK.
After Col. HaIrell and Mr.. Lytle returned
to cambridge further canvass was made
there and the subscription was readily
increased 70 $50, 000-more than was first
asked. The company viii have all the
money it wants to build the road and it
has enough on hand now to build and equip
the first thirtysix miles. Mr.. Lytle said that
work will begin at cambridge not
later than Aug. l, and possibly before
that time
The companys bonds have already been
placed in New York, and everything is
being got in shape to begin operations. The
road, when completed through TO Balm
bridge, will give a short line of All miles
between Savannah and Montgomery, and
viii open up one of the richest sections of
Alabama. The principal towns on the road
are Troy, Ozark, Dothen and Gordon.
RICH TRADE SECTION.
The Alabama counties through which the
road will pass are Montgomery, Pike, Dale
and Henry, and it will draw a large trade
from Barbour, the last named being much
the wealthiest county, agriculturally, in the
State. Its population was Is, 761 according
10 the last census, and the total population
OF all the counties through which the line
will pass was then 10000. In 1879 the half
dozen Alabama counties mentioned pro-
duced 900 bushels of corn, 90, 900 bushels
Eof rice and 157, 356 bales of cotton The
! crops now are estimated to be so per cent
larger than they were then.
The projectors of the road say that Savan-
nah will get very large percentage of the
cotton by the way of Bainbridge from the
river counties of Alabama that now goes to
A'olumbus. The company is on a solid basis,
AfE Lyle says, and the road will be pushed
thfough to completion at the earliest posi-
& HE day